Longtime Boca Raton native and FAU partner Michelle Hagerty founded her charity, “The Power of Sports,” in June 2025. The mission was simple: to “make the world a better place through sports.”
With her foundation, Hagerty focuses on bringing people together and giving every athlete equal opportunity.
“I was sitting around thinking, what am I doing with my life? What am I doing?” Michelle Hagerty told the University Press about her thought process as she decided to create something new.
“What led me to start the Power of Sports was trying to ‘level the playing field,’ and bring the opportunity to everyone who wanted to play because I believe every child has the right to play,” Hagerty explained.
Since moving from Maine to Boca Raton in 2025, Hagerty has always had a passion for helping others around her. On Feb. 10, 2026, FAU announced a $2 million donation from the Hagerty family. She has also worked with the YMCA and The Place of Hope, but she’s never been hands-on to this extent.
Every new venture needs support, and Hagerty had plenty behind her. In August 2025, FAU football and Flagler Credit Union announced their “Touchdown for Charity” campaign; for every touchdown the Owls scored this season, they donated $200 to “The Power of Sports.”
“I’ve been blessed by FAU. We have a great relationship. We have a great partnership.” Hagerty expressed her gratitude. “I’ve supported FAU and their endeavors with athletics previously. They chose the Power of Sports as the recipient of their first year touchdowns for charity, which is amazing. I’m so excited.”
“Michelle Hagerty has had such a profound impact on Florida Atlantic University and Boca Raton. She is an incredibly generous donor to FAU Athletics and to the greater community, including the Power of Sports,” said FAU vice president and director of athletics Brian White regarding Hagerty and “The Power of Sports.”
“We were thrilled to see Flagler Credit Union partner with her, knowing that touchdowns scored by the [Owls] would benefit such a noble cause through Flagler’s generosity,”
The touchdown campaign was a success, raising about $10,000 for the charity during the 2025 football season. Hagerty’s first partnership laid the groundwork, and “The Power of Sports” is now partnered with the Boca Raton basketball club and the “Bigger than Sports” foundation.
“It was really a no-brainer to partner with Michelle and the power of sports, because she is doing such amazing things in the community for youth sports, which ultimately end up filtering into FAU,” said FAU senior associate athletics director Alvin Hines, speaking about the partnership.
“A lot of athletes in these communities ultimately end up becoming students and student-athletes at FAU. It’s a home run idea, and we’re very happy to do it.”
While partnerships are phenomenal, part of Hagerty’s mission is to help young athletes, and she’s done that early on in the foundation.
“A single mother reached out to me personally on my website, through my email, and she told me her story, she had three young sons, and they all wanted to play recreational league football; she personally could not afford to have all three of them play football with the gear and the registration fees,” said Hagerty, providing an example of a family the foundation helped.
“I said I would be happy to help her take care of some of the costs. The boys got to play, and she actually sent me a picture of all three of them in their football gear at a game. So it was really sweet.” said Hagerty, furtherly.
When asked how helping people like this feels, Hagerty explained, “It’s what keeps me going, makes me happy. It’s really what it’s all about.”
Ultimately, “The Power of Sports” is just beginning. 2025 was Hagerty’s first year with the foundation, and she’s still “learning as she goes,” but above everything, she’s helping others.
The Power of Sports currently has grant applications on its website, where any nonprofit sports organization can apply for a $25,000 grant by March 31, 2026. Just as FAU did for Hagerty, Hagerty is extending her hand to the community.
“I have just recently placed a grant application on the website, so organizations can come and apply for a grant, which I would love to get a bunch of grant applications and have a successful grant season,” said Hagerty regarding the grants.
In terms of goals, Hagerty has much planned for the foundation’s first full year in 2026.
“Just building slowly, kind of grassroots, building and growing. My ultimate goal is to affect South Florida and become a more national organization, so I’m known more widely, which will take time to grow. But keep going.”
Mikai Datilus is the Sports Editor for the University Press. Email him at [email protected] or DM him on Instagram @mikaidat for more information on this and other stories.
